Beginning with Queen Anne's visit to Scrooby inn, tells in story form of the everyday life of the Pilgrims in England and Holland, of their voyage on the Mayflower and their adventures in the New World. The Brewster children and other Pilgrim boys and girls are the center of interest. A wonderful book to read aloud in the weeks before Thanksgiving. Ages 6-10

240 pages

$10.95

TIT FOR TAT

[172]

D

O any of you know where Squanto is? asked Miles Standish,
coming into the common-house where Governor Bradford and
Edward Winslow sat writing. "I can see an Indian running
down the beach toward the town; I suppose he is a
messenger."

"Squanto has gone to the forest to hunt deer, and will not
be home until night," answered the governor. "Bring the
Indian here and perhaps Winslow can understand his message."

So Miles Standish left the room, and soon returned with the
Indian, who carried in his hand a bundle of arrows wrapped
round with the skin of a large snake.

The Indian did not return the governor's friendly greeting.
Throwing the bundle of arrows upon the table, with an ugly
rattle, he gave them his message. But Governor Bradford and
Miles Standish did not know what he said, and Edward Winslow
could understand a word only now and then.

When the Indian had finished speaking, he turned to leave
the village, but Governor Bradford would not let him go.
"You must wait until Squanto comes to tell us your message,"
Winslow explained to him.

[173] Captain Standish was given charge of the Indian, and he took
his unwilling guest home to dinner. But the messenger had
heard wonderful tales about the "Thunder Chief," as the
savages called Captain Standish. Many of the Indians
believed he had the deadly black sickness buried under his
cabin and could send it upon his enemies if he wished. The
Indian was too frightened to eat, and insisted upon returning
to his people.

"He . . . filled the snake skin with powder and shot"

Night came, and Squanto had not returned.
Governor Bradford came over to the captain's cottage and
found the Indian walking angrily up and down the room.

"It is not right to hold a messenger against his wish," said
the governor. "We will have to let him go." So the Indian
was set free and he quickly sped out of the town.

The next morning when Squanto returned, the snake skin of
arrows was shown to him. "What do you understand these
arrows to mean?" asked the captain.

Squanto's eyes flashed with anger. "Arrows say, 'Come out
and fight.' Soon many arrows fly in this village. Many white
men die."

"Our bullets fly farther than arrows. We are not afraid,"
answered Bradford. He threw the arrows upon the ground and
filled the snake skin with powder and shot. Handing it to
Squanto, he said, "Take that to the chief. Tell him we have
done him no harm, but we are ready to fight if he comes."

Two days later Squanto reached the village of the chief who
had sent the arrows. These Indians did not own Massasoit as
their king. They had never been friends with the white man.
From a safe hiding place they had seen the second ship land
its company of Englishmen upon their shores. "We will make
war upon them, and kill them all now while they are so few,"
said their chief.

[175] Squanto went at once to the wigwam of the chief. "The white
men send you their thunder and lightning," he said, handing
the chief the glistening snake skin.

"The white men send you their thunder and lightning"

The Indians had heard of the deadly weapon of
the white man. A few of them had even heard its thunder, but
none of them had ever touched a gun or seen powder and shot.

The Indians crowded around to see the strange
bundle, but not one of them would touch it. The chief would
not have it in his wigwam a minute. He ordered Squanto to
take it back to Plymouth, but he would not. "There is plenty
more there," said Squanto. "When you come you shall have
it." Then he turned and left the village.

The chief then called another messenger and told him to take
the hated bundle away, anywhere out of his country. So the
messenger carried it to another tribe, but they would have
none of it. It was passed from one Indian village to
another, leaving terror in its path. At last, after many
weeks, the snake skin of powder returned unopened to
Plymouth.

That was all the Pilgrims ever heard of war with those
Indians. But they thought it wise to protect their town
better, so a high fence of pointed posts was built all about
the town. For many weeks a watchman was kept at the gate
night and day.

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